#415 ~ Twisted Little Things and Other Stories

Twisted Little Things and Other Stories by Amy Cross

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a total break away choice for me, and actually I found it to be interestingly and thoughtfully written. The author does a really great job of constructing short story narratives - in this collection they sit together in a really nicely curated whole.

I didn't find any of the subject matter truly disturbing, but rather very thought provoking. Amy's work has a very 'Tales of the Unexpected' feel to it, and would probably work well in a TV episode format.

Production values were quite high, with only one thing to mention.  Unfortunately, I had forgotten to make a note on here before I returned the book and have now lost the highlighted note on my Kindle (stupid girl!).  It was only one missing/word order comment so it doesn't really matter.



Read as part of my Kindle Unlimited package. 



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#413 ~ The Ladies' Room

The Ladies' Room by Carolyn Brown

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Not outstandingly brilliant prose, but giving it consideration the author created a strong narrative voice that kept me in the moment - I could clearly hear the Southern drawl, even though there was no attempt to amend the writing to achieve this - very successfully done in my opinion.

The plot didn't set the world alight, but then I suppose that was probably the aim. It detailed a journey of self-discovery and awakening of confidence and courage.

Overall a decent job, and I would like to explore this author more.

Production values were high, and there are no bug bears etc. to detail.

Purchase details:

I purchased/borrowed as part of my Kindle Unlimited package, but you can download a copy HERE.  At the time of writing this post it's £3.49 which seems a reasonable price.



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#409 ~Something Quite Beautiful

Something Quite Beautiful by Amanda Prowse

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A first time read for this author, just to check whether her style etc., would fit me. I was pleasantly surprised and found this to be a decent paced and enjoyable short, which helped me make up my mind to give this author more attention.



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#508 ~ The White Cuckoo

The White Cuckoo by Annie Ireson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Back on the studying wheel, so posts will be mostly brief and sparse ...


This one was an interesting take on a paranormal story, I particularly liked mix of some historical and some contemporary strands.

On the whole very well written, although it dragged a little for me towards end end.

Exceptional production values with no errors, or bug bears come to that.


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Hugs

xoxo

#507 ~ The Butterfly Garden

The Butterfly Garden by Dot Hutchison

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a completely disturbing book on so many levels ... and yes, that statement makes it sound like I wasn't that happy with the book. Check out the stars though, it gained 4 of them even though my opening words are made up with 'completely disturbing'.

The subject matter was for the majority of the time deeply uncomfortable, and would be for any reasonably well adjusted individual, but it was a consuming read on the one hand repulsing me, and on the other full of hope that what seemed almost a hopeless situation could end in anything but an unhappy and upsetting way.

Only attempt to read this book if you have a strong stomach and interest in literature that is enquiring and in need of stimulation and food for thought and contemplation. If you have you will probably run the full spectrum of emotions that I have.

Purchase details:

Downloaded as part of my Kindle Unlimited package from Amazon.co.uk.

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#494 ~ The Color of Secrets

The Color of Secrets by Lindsay Ashford

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I found it to be well-written and seemed to have an authentic resonance to it, which is usually generated by skill of the author coupled with sound research.

Although enjoyable, it scored a four with me, and for the life of me I can't put my finger on why it just did not reach a five rating - it could be that the more I read, the more harsh my opinion of them is.

Please, please don't be put off by it's lack of a further star ... it is good, well-written and enjoyable offering, but just not quite there for my own personal taste to get the fully whammy of marks.

The production values seemed sound too, and as I didn't highlight any notes, there are no errors/bug bears etc to be detailed here.

Purchase details

Like most of the books reviewed recently, this was purchased/borrowed as part of the Kindle Unlimited deal.  You can find a copy of the book HERE.  Although at £3.49 (at the time of preparing this post) it's a reasonably priced book.


Hugs

Kay



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#491 ~ The Art of Letting Go

The Art of Letting Go by Chloe Banks

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book, the first I have read by Chloe Banks, was on the shortlist for the People's Book Prize in 2015, and when I first started reading for about a chapter I did wonder why.

It was a slow-burn read told from the perspective of several chapters in alternating sections, there was also a nicely done epistolary element between one of the main characters and her long-time friend - I liked the imagination of the author in mixing up the delivery a bit.

There were no major plot twists and turns, rather it meandered along at a nice clip. It wasn't seat of the pants reading, but it was enjoyable and highly recommended with somewhere between the lower end of 4 and 5 stars.

I purchased mine with Amazon Kindle Unlimited.  Details HERE.


Errors/Bug Bears/Highlights:

The production value was really quite good, with only one mistake that I noticed:

Page 53:  'in the pub like nay normal person ...' - probably should be 'any'.


Hugs

Kay

xxooxx



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#485 ~ Treasured by Thursday

Treasured by Thursday by Catherine Bybee

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

#7 of Weekday Brides Series



More of the same from Catherine Bybee - she is a good solid author, and it is nice sometimes to have a no surprises read; she is at what I would classify as holiday reading.

I borrowed this (along with all the series on Kindle Unlimited), but unlike all of the six books this one did not have the accompanying audio file. Very frustrating, and I don't understand why they would offer 6 out of 7 with audio format and leaving the concluding book in the series hanging high and dry without it - it's a problem specific to me I know, but still Amazon, why?

You can get a copy of this book HERE

Happy reading.

Hugs

xxoxo



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#484 ~ Not Quite Dating

Not Quite Dating by Catherine Bybee

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

#1 Not Quite Series



Having worked my way through most of this author's Weekday Bride series, I thought I would try another one from a different one of her series.

This author does what it says on the tin, contemporary romance, but in such a delightful way the reader tends to forget that they are follow a formula. That's not necessarily a bad thing, an it is probably more noticeable if you read several in a row.

That having been said, I loved it and rated it a 4, based on the audio file I listened to rather than the written text as it was free with my Kindle Unlimited Download.  You can get a copy of the book HERE.

Hugs


xoxox

#483 ~ Seduced by Sunday

Seduced by Sunday by Catherine Bybee

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Book #6 in the Weekday Bride Series




Just because I find Ms Bybee's work a little formulaic, does not mean that I do not absolutely love them - because I do love them!

I do realise that I've been pushing the envelope by going for it, and reading (listening in this case) to the whole series over one week though, and it isn't really to be recommended. Maximum enjoyment is reached if you spread them out a bit. Still, one more in this series to go.

Get a copy HERE.

#482 ~ Taken by Tuesday

Taken by Tuesday by Catherine Bybee

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Book #5 of the Weekday Bride Series



Still happy to report that this series continues to be enjoyable. However, I have come to realise that she uses stock phrases spread across the series, such as 'poster child for ...' - although this is probably not that noticeable unless you read them in a straight run.

Again, I listened rather than read this as I got a free audio file with the Kindle Unlimited download.

Get you copy HERE.

Hugs

Kay

#481 ~ Single by Saturday

Single by Saturday by Catherine Bybee
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

#4 Book from the Weekday Bride Series




More of the same quality from this author, but with this being book 4 on the trot I did come to realise that it is some what formulaic - not that there is anything wrong with that! An entertaining read is, when all is said and done an entertaining read.

I read - or in my case listened to it - when recovering from a nasty bout of flu, and it made my load a little lighter. The fact that it came with a free audible file was a real bonus as I couldn't hold my little weak arms up.

You can pick up a copy HERE.

#480 ~ Fiance by Friday

Fiancé by Friday by Catherine Bybee
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

#Book 3 of Weekday Brides Series




I actually listened to this as a free audible file that came with the Kindle Unlimited book.

With a nasty case of Man flu at the time it helped sooth the pain ... girls it's true man flu is far so more serious than any normal strain!

Although this kind if brash American chic lit that I would avoid ... full of 'gotten' etcetera ... I really like her literary voice and style.

You can pick up a copy HERE.  

#479 ~ Married by Monday

Married by Monday by Catherine Bybee

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

#Book 2 in Weekday Bride Series




Not such a good rating as 'Wife by Wednesday', I just didn't find it as interesting.

It's just a good solid read - or listen in my case, as I got a free audio file with the Kindle Unlimited.

You can pick up a copy HERE.

#475 ~ Hard Times

Hard Times by Charles Dickens

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Bought as a set book for my Open University Module.

There is nothing to add about Dickens that hasn't been said already. It was a little hard-going in places, but that is more down to the style of its writing than the substance.



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#469 ~ Lacey's House

Lacey's House by JoAnne Graham

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
















I liked this; a pleasant reading experience that made me cry in places.

The themes were sympathetically dealt with with an acceptable pace of plot.

* * *

Unfortunately, I'm so entrenched in two Uni modules it was the briefest possible wording of a review.


Hugs
xoxo

#467 ~ The Magpies

The Magpies by Mark Edwards

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was surprisingly good. It went along at a reasonable pace, and the characters were quite believable. Although the author could have really ramped up Lucy's chilling side a bit more, which would gave got a further star from me.

Overall, the text was imaginative and proved to be a decent psychological thriller.

The Good ... the Bad ... the Ugly

Having lived next-door to a weird creep who did everything possible to ruin our lives, I have a deep appreciation of how living in close to proximity to a destructive and evil being can play on your mind, and drive you to do extraordinary, and out of character things.  Therefore, you won't really find anything but praise for book within this section, which I am sure you will agree makes a pleasant change!

Happy reading.

Kay

xoxox

#463 ~ The Glassblower

The Glassblower by Petra Durst-Benning

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

#Book 1 in the Series



I wasn't sure what to expect with this one, I don't usually pick foreign authors with translations.

The cover originally drew me in, and as I do the odd bit of glass lampwork there was no harm, I thought, in giving it a go - after all I could just use the 'Return' button if this Unlimited Kindle offering and I didn't get on.

It was a little sluggish at the beginning, but after that turned into a delightful offering. It isn't all light stuff contained in this book, there were dark under-tones; it certainly wasn't as clear as the glass the girls work with. The author has also left strands behind to be woven (or better still embroidered) into future work, which I am very much looking forward to picking up.

The subject matter is a worthy one, that of the empowerment of women; the author dealt with it well, but there was still room for a little bit of growth and playing around with the darkness offered, especially with the strand about the wholesaler. I am hoping that she will play around more with this more in the coming books.

I docked-off 1 star for the use of 'gotten' throughout the book. If you can write well, and this author certainly can, then there is no excuse for using it. That word is a disgusting plague on the written word. A shame, as that took the score to 4 stars rather than 5.

The good, the bad and the ugly

Apart from "gotten" there was nothing truly ugly in this book, and there didn't appear to be an blatant errors.

The good, though were things like this passage:

"... they called them "plum-cake days".  All summer long the songbirds had trilled in the pear tree outside the kitchen window but they were gone now.  The only sound these days was that of a blackbird chirruping or the high piping of a lark, and soon the mists would fall and silence even these."  (Durst-Benning, P (2003 - translated version 2014) Page 7).

The cover image, was also beautiful, which I believe was designed by Marc Cohen (see link below to Amazon page if you require more details on this).

Bibliography

Durst-Benning, P 'The Glassblower', 2003 Ullstein, Germany (2014 Translated from German by Willcocks, S AmazonCrossng, Country Unknown

Book was purchased via Kindle Unlimited HERE.

Happy reading.

Hugs

Kay 

xoxo

#462 ~ Merely a Mister

Merely A Mister by Sherry Lynn Ferguson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

#Book 3 in Regency Trilogy



Finally, my wait and see attitude to this author has proved vindicated.

Yes, there is no doubt that her writing style still remains changeable within a work, but there were only a couple of times in this current read.

I was, additionally, delighted that she ramped up the content. I really loved the progress of true love with Myles and Anne, and it was a very pretty scene at the end between the two ... it brought a tear to my eye (and I am a fairly hardened reader!).

On my blog under 'The good, the bad an the ugly' I have done into a little more detail about things that annoy me about her style, if anybody is interested.

Other than that, I still believe that she does hold promise of a higher rating. What I require from her are more baddies, twists and turns and conflict. Not everybody is capable, but I strongly feel she really is. O look forward to furthering our writer/reader relationship in the future - I would love to say great things of her.

For now, a very solid 4 star rating.

The good, the bad and the ugly

For those who are perhaps of the English persuasion, it might be difficult to comprehend what I mean by style with regard to this author's writing.

She does really well to stick to an authentic historical language, without tending towards the Ye Olde Worlde, but dips in and out of it at times with Americanism.

I don't tend to cite many examples of this, but as examples here a couple:

Query:

"Anne dear, you do look tired," Vera said in the light of the entry" (Ferguson, SL Location 1091).

Reasoning behind my query:

I would strongly argue that 'entry' is not really appropriately used here, and feel that it would be more commonly used in the North American language, rather than Regency England.  It would have been better to express this as hallway rather than entry.  

It may feel a really small criticism, but it can - and certainly does in my case - grate against the nerves.  Easily solved by solid and authentic research.  Given this might prove problematic, but there are always other to discuss this with by email.

Query:

"Mr Myles stood outside by the tiny front gate, just steps from the stoop."

Reasoning behind my query:

'Stoop' is another North American term, it is a 'door step' her in England.

These examples (and many others throughout the book) may feel a really small criticism, but it can - and certainly does in my case - grate against the nerves, and spoils anything with promise.

They are easily solved by solid and authentic research.  Given this might prove problematic, but there are always other to discuss this with by email.

Bibliography

Fergusion, SL 'Merely a Mister' October 2013 Montlake Romanc, Country of publication Unknown

Kindle Unlimited HERE.

Happy reading.

Hugs

Kay xoxo

#452 ~ New Beginnings

New Beginnings by Fern Britton

My rating: 4 of 5 stars








Reading time at the moment is a precious, precious thing, and therefore I was surprised to find out that this book by Fern Britton was 400 pages long; it seemed like a quick read.

I'm not suggesting or one moment that the quality was tip-top/first class/top drawer, but it was sufficiently okay.

I was intrigued to see how a fairly well known Z list celeb would handle the change to writer ... they all seem to be doing it don't they? ... and was actually pleasantly surprised.

I can't say that I would actively seek out more of her work, but if I ever get the chance to lounge by a pool, this would be the kind of un-demanding read that would make a perfect read a bit, sip a bit, read a bit more.


Product details

400 pages; Kindle Download; Contemporary, Romance

I borrowed an electronic copy from my local Library and used Overdrive to read it on Baby (Kindle Fire HD).


The good ... the bad ... the ugly

Good:  With a Kindle fire, borrowing ebooks from the local library is a breeze with the Overdrive app.  However, it does limit features such as bookmarking.

The standard of grammar was acceptable.

Bad:  Nothing outright bad I am pleased to report.

Ugly:  A few formatting errors, for example missing capital letters at the start of chapters etc.  Not many.

Happy reading.

Kay